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San Francisco 49ers trade for cornerback Eric Wright

By Cam InmanBay Area News Group

Posted:
07/19/2013 01:23:15 PM PDT

Updated:
07/19/2013 09:52:12 PM PDT

SANTA CLARA -- In the 49ers' latest effort to improve their pass defense, they traded Friday for veteran cornerback Eric Wright, a San Francisco native who fell out of favor with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after only one season there.

In exchange, the 49ers sent the Buccaneers a conditional draft pick in 2014. Earlier Friday, undrafted rookie cornerback Lowell Rose was released to make room on the 90-man roster for Wright.

The Tampa Bay Times is reporting that Wright was arrested last week in Los Angeles on suspicion of driving under the influence. He also was arrested a year ago in L.A. for suspicion of felony driving under the influence, but charges were never brought against him.

The 49ers acquired cornerback and San Francisco native Eric Wright from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday. (Associated Press)

"We are pleased to add Eric to our team," 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said. "As an organization, we have done our due diligence and anticipate Eric working hard to contribute to the 49ers."

The 49ers still have all five cornerbacks from last season's NFC championship team, including starters Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown and reserves Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox and Tramaine Brock. Nnamdi Asomugha signed a one-year, nonguaranteed deal after being released from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Wright, who turns 28 on Wednesday, was a 2007 second-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns, then moved on to the Detroit Lions in 2011 before signing a five-year, $37.5 million deal in March 2012 with the Buccaneers. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound cornerback attended Riordan High before playing collegiately at USC and UNLV.

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He had only one interception in 10 games last season before drawing a four-game suspension from the league for violating its policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He attributed that positive test to his use of Adderall in the offseason.

Wright is due to make $1.5 million in base salary this season, or $4 million less than Rogers, the 49ers' starter at left cornerback the past two seasons who's due to make $13.5 million in salaries in 2014 and 2015 combined.

Brown's base salary is $2,925,000 as he enters the final season of his contract, Brock has a $1,323,000 tender, and both Culliver and Cox are slated to make $555,000 in base salaries.

Wright became expendable with the Buccaneers when they acquired former New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis.